A study released by the American Psychological Association claimed that 32% of New Yorkers have higher stress levels than they did in 2010. Known as “The City That Never Sleeps”, New York City is home to people who are working tirelessly to achieve their dreams. However, working non-stop can lead to a spike in a person’s stress levels, and if it’s not dealt with immediately, a person’s health can be affected.
Travelling is among the top activities that you can make to decrease your stress. If you’re living in New York and need a quick getaway, there are plenty of routes to take from the city. Check out these three picks we chose for awesome road trip destinations close to NYC.
3 Fascinating Road Trip Destinations Close to NYC :
1. Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is arguably the best waterfalls anyone can find in the United States, and luckily for you, it’s just a few hours away from New York City. Niagara Falls is famous for its sheer power and popularity.
Sightseeing is not the only thing you can do here though. his place offers a plethora of fun activities that you can enjoy, such as getting splashed while riding on the Maid of the Mist, guided wine tours, and many more.
Niagara Falls is in between the border of Ontario, Canada, and the state of New York. To get there, you’ll need a durable vehicle to handle the rough terrains and travel 400 miles north of the city.
2. Westerly, Rhode Island
There is a quote that says “It’s the journey, not the destination.” This quote resonates with people that enjoy coastal road trips, and that’s exactly what the road trip to Westerly, Rhode Island offers.
Westerly, Rhode Islands is famous to New York City dwellers for its long and beautiful coastal roads that can take the stress off of your mind and body. Upon reaching Westerly, Rhode Island after driving approximately 2 and a half hours from New York City, you can drive around and enjoy what the area has to offer.
Some places to visit should include the Watch Hill Lighthouse, the Napatree Point Conservation Area, and the Misquamicut State Beach.
Watch this video about Westerly:
3. Cold Springs, New York
Nature is not the only place where you can find your sweet escape. You can also enjoy road trips that end with picturesque small towns like Cold Springs. This place is located north of New York City, and it is home to endless art galleries, antique shops, and many enjoyable hiking trails.
Also, Cold Springs houses several great restaurants that will spoil your taste buds. Cold Springs is perfect for those who want to experience the novelty of a quaint village lifestyle just hours away from the concrete jungle.
Road trips can be a fun and enjoyable way to break free from all of the stress that you’ve been dealing with. So if you’re planning to get in your car and take a road trip, consider the destinations above. These destinations are just hours away from New York, and they are guaranteed to be a great getaway for you and your loved ones.Looking for more weekend getaway ideas? Check out this page of ours.
Karen works for a big hedge fund, she’s awesome with numbers and loves what she does, but above all – she loves traveling. Whenever she’s on the road, she tries to get into the gritty tiny details of every location she explores.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram